First Year Seminar Experience

The University’s First-Year Seminar (FYS) program is designed to support you through the challenging process of starting college. No matter the course topic, your seminar will help you develop and apply core skills such as critical thinking, careful reading, and successful academic writing. Your FYS professor will be your initial academic advisor at the University and will continue to advise you through your first few semesters. Each FYS professor has chosen a seasoned and friendly University of Redlands student to serve as your peer advisor.

During New Student Orientation, you will meet your seminar professor and peer advisor to begin charting your academic path, register for the rest of your fall semester courses and to start work on your seminar topic. Each FYS will continue throughout the fall semester.

If you are admitted into Johnston Center for Integrative Studies, or as a Music major or minor, there is a designated seminar for your program. Please use the buttons below to review information about those seminars and to place yourself in the appropriately designated seminar.

All other incoming students should browse through the list of seminars and choose ten seminars. Please take the time to review all the seminar information carefully and be open-minded when you make your selection – this is your first chance in college to explore new subjects and expand your mind!

I was studying the different ways Disneyland makes use of physics in their attraction and at their park. It was an amazing opportunity to learn the science and also to bond with my classmates and make friends at Disneyland.
Aaron Jensen ‘17Gurnee, Ill.

In my First Year Seminar, we took an in-depth look at the Kennedy family. I was never interested in politics or history, but after spending a semester reading and being engaged in thought-provoking lectures, I started to really enjoy both! I even read a few books about JFK on my own after the class was over, and am currently reading the new biography about Thomas Jefferson.
Natalie Stubb ’17Seattle, Wash.